Well-Known Member

As far as getting a complete explanation, you can get a half dozen ones, some might be different than others.

I was sitting in Oly at the public hearing, and it was clear that the proponents of this dog really didn't know what was in their own measure. They claimed at one point that "they didn't think" it would require background checks for certain things when clearly their own measure says such checks WOULD be required. NRA's Brian Judy told the committee that it doesn't matter what the proponents "think," it only matters what a JUDGE THINKS if you're ever charged.

Satterberg told the Times editorial board that he didn't think anyone would ever be prosecuted for just loaning a gun to a buddy for a weekend bird hunt, and that raises the question: If you're not going to enforce a law, WTF are you supporting it?

But this says it all: Two major state rank-and-file law enforcement groups are against I-594 and FOR I-591. To date, NO law enforcement group has come out in support of I-594.

If approved by voters, the measure would require background checks to be run on every person purchasing a gun in the state of Washington, even those who are doing so via private sales. However, transfers of antique guns and those between immediate family members would be exempt from the background checks.

The measure also requires that dealers who are facilitating gun transfers, be they through the licensed dealer or a private seller, receive confirmation in writing from the chief of police or sheriff that the purchaser in question "is eligible to possess a pistol [...] and that the application to purchase is approved by the chief of police or sheriff."
(Note: this is exempted if the purchaser has a CPL in Sec. 5, 1 (a))

Furthermore, the initiative would render it illegal to hand off a firearm to people outside a person's immediate family, though exceptions are mentioned, including situations in which people are at a shooting range or hunting.

Here is the initiative itself, I hope this will be sufficiently detailed.

Well-Known Member

Thanks, Dave. I have compiled a lot of what I am looking for but my list is unfinished. One example of the kind of thing I have found but I have not seen talked about is:Section 3:
(f) The temporary transfer of a firearm (i) between spouses or domestic partners; {skip down to}
or (v) while hunting if the hunting is legal in all places where the person to whom the firearm is transferred possesses the firearm and the person to whom the firearm is transferred has completed all training and holds all licenses or permits required for such hunting, provided that any temporary transfer allowed by this subsection is permitted only if the person to whom the firearm is transferred is not prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law;

The way I read this, one is allowed to loan a rifle to their spouse for hunting. Unless they happen to be going to Oregon to hunt and don't have a Washington State hunting license. In that case it would be a felony to transport the borrowed firearm anywhere in Washington.

This I-594 is a real mess! I have made an new set of my little poster images for anyone to use just like they owned them. I'll add them to my Second Amendment Images for FREE thread.

Well-Known Member

Looks like loaning to somebody is OK for specific purposes is OK so long as the following conditions are met:

"...
(iv) to a person who is under eighteen years of age for lawful hunting, sporting, or
educational purposes while under the direct supervision and control of
a responsible adult who is not prohibited from possessing firearms; or
(v) while hunting if the hunting is legal in all places where the
person to whom the firearm is transferred possesses the firearm and the
person to whom the firearm is transferred has completed all training
and holds all licenses or permits required for such hunting, provided
that any temporary transfer allowed by this subsection is permitted
only if the person to whom the firearm is transferred is not prohibited
from possessing firearms under state or federal law;..."

"Family or household member" means "family" or "household member" as used in RCW 10.99.020."

and

"A transfer between immediate family members, which for this subsection shall be limited to spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, first cousins, aunts, and uncles, that is a bona fide gift;..."

Non-emergency loans between family are not discussed as far as I can see.

Let's just defeat this and pass I-591 and we'll be OK for the time being. 594 is giving me a headache, just reading it.

Quit talkin' and start chalking!

The measure also requires that dealers who are facilitating gun transfers, be they through the licensed dealer or a private seller, receive confirmation in writing from the chief of police or sheriff that the purchaser in question "is eligible to possess a pistol [...] and that the application to purchase is approved by the chief of police or sheriff."[/COLOR]
(Note: this is exempted if the purchaser has a CPL in Sec. 5, 1 (a))

Click to expand...

Yet another potential issue. What's to stop Seattle's anti gun chief of police to decline to issue such confirmations?

Well-Known Member

The part that is IMPOSSIBLE is the section that requires the CLEO to sign off on every transfer done without a CPL. Can you imagine how impossible this is? What chief or sheriff is going to certify every transfer as being kosher? Are they kiddin' me?

It's crazy, which is probably the best thing about the initiative from our perspective.

Well-Known Member

Bellevue gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb, whose Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is on the front lines in a battle over gun rights in Washington State, unloaded on Initiative 594 yesterday during an interview with KTTH radio’s Ben Shapiro, warning that “The devil is in the details of 594.”

Active Member

Looks like loaning to somebody is OK for specific purposes is OK so long as the following conditions are met:

"...
(iv) to a person who is under eighteen years of age for lawful hunting, sporting, or
educational purposes while under the direct supervision and control of
a responsible adult who is not prohibited from possessing firearms; or
(v) while hunting if the hunting is legal in all places where the
person to whom the firearm is transferred possesses the firearm and the
person to whom the firearm is transferred has completed all training
and holds all licenses or permits required for such hunting, provided
that any temporary transfer allowed by this subsection is permitted
only if the person to whom the firearm is transferred is not prohibited
from possessing firearms under state or federal law;..."

"Family or household member" means "family" or "household member" as used in RCW 10.99.020."

and

"A transfer between immediate family members, which for this subsection shall be limited to spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, first cousins, aunts, and uncles, that is a bona fide gift;..."

Non-emergency loans between family are not discussed as far as I can see.

Let's just defeat this and pass I-591 and we'll be OK for the time being. 594 is giving me a headache, just reading it.

Look closely at that hunting "exception". Since it is not legal for them to hunt in my living room, or upon the local and state streets and highways, I would have to travel with them to wherever they are planning to hunt before I could hand them the gun.

Well-Known Member

Getting the permission from the Sheriff to loan a gun to your spouse for her to use while you are away from home could take 30 days. Without that permission and transfer approval in writing, it would be a felony for her to transport the gun to the range for some target practice.

WELCOME!

Northwest Firearms provides a place for gun owners of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho a place to converse,
organize, learn, educate, trade, and most importantly, work together to preserve our Second Amendment rights.

Participation is completely free and registration takes only a few moments.

About Northwest Firearms

We believe the 2nd Amendment is best defended through grass-roots organization, education, and advocacy centered around individual gun owners. It is our mission to encourage, organize, and support these efforts throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.